Akemi
There are many things to consider when chosig the right college. Your mind might be filled with questions: Are the other students kind? Will college be difficult? Will my professors be reasonable? You will start forming a list of criteria that must be met in order to find the "right" college. However, it is important to keep an open mind and be flexible. Don't make your criteria too strict. Rather consider the overall vibe you get from the school. Once you have made your decision about your school, you might find that the college doesn't fit you "perfectly" and you will start second guessing your choice. Remeber, no school will ever be "perfect". Sometimes it is difficult to find your niche and get comfortable. College isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to make you grow as a person. Sometimes you will have to work harder than you expected to be happy and comfortable. Chosing the "right" school is always a good start to a great college experience, but ultimately your college experience is defined by you.
Megan
It doesn't matter where you go, it is you (or your student) that can create a wonderful college experience so long as the college you attend has the program necessary to satisfy your degree needs. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your experience and strive to meet your goals. Each college is unique, but the student is in charge of shaping his or her own future. No matter where you end up, strive to accomplish all goals that you make and be as involved as you can.
Cara
Make sure it's a place that they really love and whose culture they fit. Go to school for education, not to party.
Katherine
Work as hard as you need to in order to bring yourself to the place to want to be in life.
cassidy
Be open minded about your selections, schools with the most variety in student body and courses offered are often the ones you can get the most out of. Visit the campus beforehand and talk with students who attend.
Kathryn
Going through the process of selecting an appropriate college is difficult and time consuming. I believe it is extremley important to find the best college for the student. Your entire college experience will effect the rest of your life; including the education your recieve, job opportunities, the people you will meet, and the expereinces you will have. Pick colleges that are in your state if you are worried about budget. I chose an out of state college and although this is definitley the place I want and need to be, I know that I may have to transfer back to my state because of my financial situation. As you complete your list of schools, use the internet. It is a fantastic resource to get so many questions answered and to see pictures of this campus. It is a great way to find out information without having to visit the campus a bunch of times. After you have a good list make sure you get the chance to get a campus tour. This will show you what the people are like, what the surrounding community is like, if this school has the academics you want, and if this truly fits you.
Stacie
Make sure that you go and tour the campus to learn more about it; many campuses offer many different things to students, and it is smart to know what these things are. Students and parents should research the school just to get to know it better. They should also find out how much it will cost to go there so they know whether or not they can afford it or if they need to take out a loan. University of Oregon is a large school with many students and sometimes it can be overwhelming to students. Classes are much harder than they are in high school, therefore students need to focus on school first, and then fun activities afterwards. I would suggest taking a PE class or something like that because they are very fun, and can take a load off of homework; it is a good break from school. College is a great experience, and i believe every person should experience it. You will have some of your greatest memories in college, and college is a place where you will make life long friends, so make the most of it, but remember to go with the right mindset.
Mizuki
When making the decision, everything seems like life-or-death. What's most important is to take a step back, breathe, and put it into perspective. You've probably read about the schools you're interested in, visited, and have a general idea of what you're looking for. What's important is to think about all those things, and try to wrack in your brain which school you felt most comfortable at. When you stepped onto campus, did it feel good? Were you struck by the campus or felt like it was lacking something? When it comes down to it, it's not going to be about the GPA or SAT score. It's going to be about the type of people and environment you'll be surrounding yourself in. It's not even about the rankings of different colleges. It's going to be about having fun, learning, and enjoying yourself in college! So don't worry so much. Relax. Trust your instincts, and forget about the numbers, statistics, and worries.
Beau
Finding the right college is a very complex question, and you really have to know what you want out of your college experience in order to answer it. For me my focus was to meet as many people as possible, go to as many parties as I could, and date as many girls as I could. However, I have found that all that is fun and great, but what is more important is what you learned and take away from your college carrier, not only from your classrooms, but from just being on your own in this crazy chapter of life called college. The things I have learned from my roommates and friends, as well as just the town of Eugene has shaped and molded me into the person I am today. With that being said you have to look around at the people that are walking around the campus of the school you are thinking of applying at, then ask your self, do I want to be like them? If no then ceep looking because if you don't fit into a school socially, and or want to be like your peers, then you will now leave college satisfied.
Elan
Go to a junior/community college first and get all of youre bone-head 101 classes done, then find a place with weather and a campus you like, and go for it. Have fun, be safe, dont forget what you went to college to do, GO TO CLASS!